amulet iconThings they didn't teach you in Hebrew school.
Practical Kabbalah and Related Folklore

Do I need to know or have read about Kabbalah in order to understand this material?

No, though it wouldn't hurt. This is because, as Gershom Sholem wrote:

"Historically speaking, a large part of the contents of practical Kabbalah predate those of the speculative Kabbalah and are not dependent on them. In effect, what came to be considered practical Kabbalah constituted an agglomeration of all the magical practices that developed in Judaism from the Talmudic period down through the Middle Ages. The doctrine of the Sefirot hardly ever played a decisive role in these practices..." (Kabbalah, p. 183.)

What Does the Hand Icon Mean?

The site's hand logo is a combination of several concepts. The word on the palm, Da'at, means "knowledge." The hand itself is reminiscent of a charm or amulet which still exists today called a Hand of God, which was originally intended to ward off the Evil Eye. Finally, for me personally, the hand represents creative power. Or hands are what set us appart from all other creatures, enabling us to build and record.

 

In recent years, it's become fairly easy for the general public to find information about Kabbalah, the tradition of Jewish mysticism. What makes this site different is its emphasis on Kabbalah's application in popular culture, superstition, and folklore. This is known as Kabbalah ma'asit: Practical Kabbalah. In searching bookstores, libraries, and the internet, I have found few English sources which focus their attention exclusively on these subjects. This site is a compilation of my personal research, and a companion piece to the information already available to the general public.

NEWS:

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12/08: There have been some changes to the site, including updated and added articles! More »

Current Topics:

Articles are grouped by topic. If you are unfamiliar with practical Kabbalah, it is suggested you start with "The Practice" and "Holy Letters."

The Practice

What is practical Kabbalah? Can it be called magic?Who were the people who utilized it, and what rules did they follow?

Holy Letters & Names of God

Words, and the Hebrew alphabet itself, were at the center of practical Kabbalah.

Amulets

Over the centuries, practical Kabbalists created variety of objects to keep their owners from harm.

Demons

The Jewish take on demonology, including their origins, classification, Lilith, and Ashmedai.

The Golem

A golem is an artificial man created by means of practical Kabbalah. Explore the famous legend and the mysticism behind it.

 

Contents © 2000-2012, F. Levine. May not be reproduced without permission.

The information contained in this document is based on the author's personal research and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as religious instruction or to represent contemporary practice of Judaism or the Kabbalah. Although every attempt has been made to gather information from legitimate sources, the author does not guarantee the complete accuracy of this document. The author is not a rabbi; nor is the author a professor, curator, translator, or practitioner or instructor of the Kabbalah. The author does not, cannot, and will not provide any training in the topics contained in this document. The author does not condone performing any of the practices or rituals described herein.